- September 3, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS Team
- Categories: Environmental Science, IJRIAS
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2454-6194
Ekundayo, T.O.1,*, Kekere, O1, Fatoba, P.O2
1Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko P.M.B. 001, Akungba Ondo State, Nigeria
2Department of Plant Biology,
Abstract: – Heavy metal contamination of vegetables cannot be underestimated as these foodstuffs are important components of human diet. A study to investigate the heavy metal content in four selected vegetables (Amaranthus virdis, Corchorus olitorus, Solanum melogena and Abelmoschus esculentus) raised with Akure-Ilesa and Ife-Ibadan roadside soils was carried out. Soil samples were collected at two different locations each along Akure-Ilesa and Ife-Ibadan road. The samples were digested using Aqua regia method and heavy metals; Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn contents determined with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The study revealed that the vegetables varied in the amount of heavy metals absorbed from the soil. Of all the four raised vegetables Abelmoschus esculentus had the highest content of 0.391, 0.041, 0.042 and 0.516 mg/kg for Akure-Ilesa and 0.420, 0.037, 0.045 and 0.550 mg/kg for Ife-Ibadan of Pb, Cd, Cr and Zn respectively. It can be concluded that the selected vegetables accumulated high concentrations of Pb and Zn but low amount of Cd and Cr.
